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SPRINGFIELD — A mega shoe store is set to open in July at the Upper Valley Mall, bringing with it dozens of jobs and a boost to the local economy.
The Shoe Dept. Encore store will be one of the largest Encore stores in the nation at 31,000 square feet and will fill a building left vacant by Steve & Barry’s, which closed in late 2008 after the retailer filed bankruptcy, said David Zak, vice president of economic development at the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce.
Zak said the closing of Steve & Barry’s “left a gaping hole at the Upper Valley Mall,” but he expects the shoe retailer, which will create between 20 to 100 new jobs and increase sales tax revenue in the area, to fill the void and become a big draw for Miami Valley shoppers.
“Having one of the largest, if not the largest, shoe stores in Ohio and the entire Midwest means the store can function as even a destination retail shop once word gets out,” Zak said.
The shoe store carries name brands such as Adidas, Ed Hardy, Jessica Simpson, Reebok and Nike at low prices and is similar to DSW, said Brenda Labonte, manager of Upper Valley Mall, 1475 Upper Valley Pike. “It’s adding a definite attraction because they will be offering such a good selection at good prices,” said Labonte.
The store is a division of Shoe Show Inc., a national shoe store chain based in North Carolina.
The chain has more than 1,100 locations in 36 states.
The Encore store at the Upper Valley Mall will be the only one of its kind in the region and will be only one of three Encore stores in Ohio, Zak said, adding that the other two are in Akron and Richmond Heights.
Clark County Commissioner John Detrick said he and other area leaders are pleased the chain store is coming to Springfield.
He and others said the store will give residents who travel to The Greene in Beavercreek and other shopping centers in the Miami Valley an opportunity to shop at a local retailer and in turn keep increase sales tax revenue in the area.
“It will be an opportunity for citizens to shop locally and create a positive ripple effect in the community,” Detrick said.
Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mike McDorman said for every $100 a consumer spends, $43 remains in the local economy.
“This is a important for the mall and for the city of Springfield,” McDorman said. “We’ve seen a downturn in the economy and it’s had an impact on the retail industry. But we’re constantly working to bring new opportunities to the mall and keep dollars from going out of the county.”
Clark County Community Development Director Tom Hale said the store is a positive addition to the mall, which has seen a number of retailers move in and out during the economic downturn.
“It will not be the largest store at the mall, but it is substantial and is a welcome sight at the mall,” Hale said.
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